News / Brazil

Brazil names politicians in Petrobras graft probe

Saturday, 07 March 2015 6:35 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 07 March 2015 6:39 AM ]

People wave banners during an employees' protest demanding for their job protection outside the headquarters of the Brazilian state-run oil giant Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro on March 4, 2015. © AFP

Brazil’s Supreme Court has released the names of dozens of politicians, including the former president under investigation, over a massive corruption scandal surrounding the state-run oil company, Petrobras.

The court said in a statement published on Friday that 22 deputies and 12 senators will be probed as part of the graft inquiry.

Brazil’s former President Collor de Mello, ex-Energy Minister Edison Lobao, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha and Senate President Renan Calheiros are among those who will be investigated.

Most politicians named in the list belong to the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) and the allied Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB).

They are reportedly accused of involvement in a scheme facilitating graft in the oil giant, which saw some USD 3.8 billion creamed off inflated contracts over a decade.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who served as the head of Petrobras before taking office in 2010, also faces criticism for failing to take action against corruption during her tenure at the oil company and later as the Brazilian leader.

Rousseff, however, has denied any knowledge of the multibillion-dollar bribery and kickback scheme and backed the ongoing Petrobras probe, which has tarnished the company’s financial standing.

In December last year, prosecutors charged executives from several Brazilian construction firms with allegations that contractors colluded in tenders and bribed officials of the Brazilian oil producer.

SSM/MKA/HRB

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